A Special "Thank You!" to Sherry Pollard for Transcribing the Goodspeed Biographies!

James COOK, a well known planter of Bradley County, is a native of East Tennessee, born in Blount County, May 17, 1820, and son of Alexander and Levicia (BALL) COOK. The father was of Irish descent. The mother's descent is not known, but she was a native of Tennessee. The father was born in North Carolina in 1791, and died in Blount County April 4, 1864. The mother was born in Washington County, Tenn., in 1793, and died in Blount County in January, 1866. The parents were married in Blount County, and spent their days there. The father was engaged in agricultural pursuits during life. He was a Democrat, and a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The mother was a member of the same church. Our subject is the third of eleven children. He secured a good academic education in his youth in Blount County, and having selected farming for an occupation in life, began at an early age the cultivation of the soil. In 1859 he came to Bradley County, and purchased and settled where he now lives, and since that date to the present has given his attention exclusively to farming; at different times he has traded in live stock. Our subject has been an enterprising business man, and now owns upward of 780 acres of land in Bradley County. He has a large and commodious brick residence. On January 7, 1847, he married Miss Lucinda HENRY, a most excellent lady, a native of Blount County, born April 9, 1832. This union has resulted in the birth of six children--three sons and three daughters--two sons dead. Our subject is a decided Democrat. He is not a member of any church, but is a firm believer in the Christian religion, and a man of good moral character.